Vesuvius

April 24, 1872 Eruption of Vesuvius

April 24, 1872 · VEI 3 · 9 deaths

Vesuvius in Italy erupted on April 24, 1872 with a Volcanic Explosivity Index of 3. The eruption killed 9 people.

Where it erupted

Vesuvius, Italy, with its other significant eruptions.

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The eruption

Date
April 24, 1872
Volcano
Vesuvius, complex volcano
Country
Italy
Volcanic Explosivity Index
3, moderate to large (eruption column 3 to 15 km)
Killed by
Lava flows; Gas (from eruptive craters, fumaroles and solfataras)
Location
40.821° N, 14.426° E

The toll

Deaths
9
Injuries
11

Where the literature gives no number, NCEI records a description on a scale of 1 to 4, printed here in its words. Damage is in millions of US dollars of the year of the event, not adjusted for inflation.

What the record says

NCEI’s account, from the sources it cites.

Young people in Valle del Inferno failed to notice retreat cut off by lava which trapped them between precipice of Monte Somma and active flow. Nazaro reported 9 killed and 11 injured, plus some fatalities from CO2. (reference #9675)

Other significant eruptions of Vesuvius

More

Every eruption in 1872The 1800sVesuviusEarthquakes near VesuviusThis day in weather history

Sources

Volcanoes and significant eruptions from NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information, Global Historical Hazard Database, cited as NCEI/WDS, doi:10.7289/V5PN93H7. Public domain. Read 2026-09-24. Volcano numbers are the Smithsonian Institution’s Global Volcanism Program’s. NCEI event 29.